Hi Dave, I have roughened the top two to three inches or so and clean all the inside with the Iso fluid you advised me to use, I liked your blog on the ballast external cast very interesting.

Should work out OK. Once the deck stringers and deck beams are glued in place and set hard the hull should remain stable.
You do need to roughen the hull where you glue the stringers and beams. The manufacturing process will have left a waxy covering to the fibreglass and nothing will stick if you don't.

Hi, Thanks for your comments, Just a little angry yesterday that i did not measure both the plan and the Hull, don't take anything for granted in the future. Crack on today.

Cheers Jon

Hi Martin, Yes i was a bit angry with myself yesterday but all is not lost i will get going on the build this afternoon and will get more photo's on here as i go.

Cheers Jon

All part of the fun Muskrat.
We have been there and unfortunately due to the kit manufacturers most of us tend to fall into the same trap.

Don't let it put you off.
Keep going.
A few photos of you progress would be nice to see.

Martin555.

All is not lost. We do learn from our boo boos. Being able to use some of them is is good thing. Every step in this build will have ups and downs. The satisfaction will be that you built her and they are your fixes only you know what they are.
Rick

Hi Dave, yes it does show a deck rail and below it I have got to cut the side of the Hull out to let the deck wash out, that will be fun?.

Regards

Jon

Progressing well, Jon.
Does the plan not show a deck rail all round the inside of the hull?

Hi Bill My workshop is actually my Dads garage i am his carer, I turned it into a wood workshop only a little while ago following from my Dad who was a cabinet maker before he got ill, i keep it clean because my dads workshop was always clean and tidy so i probably take after him,

Hi Jon.
Looking good.
A sturdy build base is a must always.
On a separate note.I wish my workshop was as tidy as yours👍.
Note to self,must tidy up bench.
Well done.
Regards Bill

Hi Nerys thanks for the info i will have a look and see if i can find it. If not i will have a go at making one myself.

regards Jon

Jon, sorry, not that I know of. I can buy fibreglass bulb keels to fit my bigger Thames Barges, but they would not fit a pilot cutter. For my smaller barges I make what is essentially a shallow box about 3" wide, 10" long and about 1/2" thick. A 6mm threaded rod goes through the top for bolting to the hull. Make the box but do not fit the front. Fill with either sheet lead or lead fishing ballast, put side on glued and screwed. The leading and trailing edge can be rounded off. I have used brass sheet or ply for the front and back, depends how much weight you want. Probably would look ugly on a pilot cutter, but it works. Hope you can understand what I mean.
As I use this it is a fin keel,but there is no reason why you could not adapt it to fit along the long keel of your boat. As an afterthought, Mistyoptic made an extension weighted keel much the same idea as this for a small sailing boat he built in the Dutch style recently. Find the posts on that, he did do some photos, they were in Build Blogs under Dutch Auxiliary

Cheers, Nerys

Hi Nerys is there anyone in the community they could make me one or are there any plans for one that you know of.

Regards

Jon

Looks like a nice strong stand, just what is required

Looks a nice shape hull. I think you are wise to plan an external bolt on keel.

Nerys

Progress Jon👍👍👍 way to go.
Rick

Good luck Jon, looks to be a nice clean hull and good plan details.

No time like the present, I thought I would make a workstand for a start.

Cheers Jon.

Nice looking Hull Jon.

Great to see you have made a start.

Martin555.

Best of luck Jon. Looking forward to this one.
If you can, a few pictures of the kit with something against the hull to give a size perspective would be great,
Thanks. Peter.😊

Hi Jon.
I’m sure you do.We all do when we scratch our head and think what have I let myself in for.
We are all here to help in any way.
Regards Bill

Thank you Martin looking forward getting started.

Jon.

Thanks Bill I am sure I will be ok when I start

I do hope so Bill but I do feel a bit daunted at the moment.

Cheers Jon

Evening Jon.
This should be a good build.
Looking forward to it.
Regards Bill

Looking forward to this Muskrat.
Good luck with the build.
I hope all runs smoothly.

Martin555.